Reclining chair



Aug. 169 1949.

Filed Aug. 10, 1946 RECLINING CHAIR r5 Smets-sheet 1 /2- 4- Mag ATToR/x/EY w. McARTH-UR RECLININVG CHAIR Aug. 16,v 1949.

Filed Aug. 1o, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheecl 2 ,4f-P THUR INVENTOR.

MMR/@EN AT TORZYE'Y W. MCARTHUR RECLINING CHAIR Aug. 16, 1949.

Filed Aug. 1o', 194e 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N V EN TOR. MRR/5N M2 ARTHUR ATTORNEY Aug. 16, 1949. w, MCARrHUR 2,479,175

REGLINNG CHAIR 4:Filed Aug. l0, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fics.;

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, I N VEN TOR. MRRE/v M-C/flf? THUR A TTORZVEY reclining chair wherein the parts are so arranged as to allow adequate room for the feet of an occupant seated in a chair to the rear. This is especially desirable in transportation seating and in close seating arrangements.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a reclining chair having an adjustable seat and back that may be readily removed as a unit from the frame of the chair.

This invention has for a further object the provision of a chair of the character indicated wherein the seat and back are adjustable in unison along a generally downward and forward path.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a reclining chair that is characterized by its simple design, staunch construction, and light weight.

The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages, will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art upon reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, which respectively describe and illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a reclining chair constructed in accordance with this invention, parts being broken away for better illustration;

Figure 2 is a View taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1, with parts broken away and other parts omitted, and illustrating the relationship of the parts when the back and seat are adjusted to upright position;

Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 2 and illustrates the relationship of the parts when the back and seat are adjusted to full recline position;

Figure 4. is an enlarged View taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 5-5 vof Figure 2, with parts broken away for better illustration;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view taken along line E--B of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged view taken along line 1 1 of Figure 1, with parts omitted. The purpose of Figure '7 is to illustrate the devices in the mechanism for normally urging the seat and 'back from recline to upright position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view taken along line Y 8 8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of devices employed The reclining chair of this invention comprisesa support frame, generally indicated by numeral I5 in Figure l, and including a pair of spaced parallel and upright side frames I5. Each side frame includes a front leg i1 and a rear leg i3 that are joined together at the top by a brace I9. Legs il and I8 and braces i9 are preferably made of magnesium tubing elements that are rectangular in cross section to obtain requisite strength and rigidity and to provide light-weight construction. ProXimate the. forward end of each brace I9 and secured thereto in any desired manner is an inverted U-shaped member 2U, to which the opposite ends of a front circular tubular stretcher 2l are aflixed. A rear tubular stretcher 22, preferably elliptical in cross section (Figures 4 and '7), is connected to the rear portion of each brace I9V through the medium oi an attaching plate 23 and rivets or the like 24, as is best shown in Figure 4.

Secured to each side frame I6 and projecting thereabove, is an arm rest 25 that includes an upstanding tubular frame 25 and that is provided with the usual padding material (not shown) and is covered with a suitable upholstery fabric 21 which extends under each brace i9 and spans the vspace between these braces, as is indicated in Figures 1 and 2.

As is best shown in Figures 4 and 5, each side frame also includes an upstanding metal plate 30, mounted `against the inner vertical face and at the rear portion of a corresponding brace I9 through the medium of a series of rivets 3| and rivets 24, earlier mentioned. Each plate 39 is provided with cutouts or aperturess 32, 33 and 34 for effectively reducing the weight of the plate without impairing its strength or rigidity. Formed in each plate 30 is an elongated downwardly and forwardly extending arcuate milled slot or groove 35 that is preferably of C crosssectional configuration and that serves as a track for rollers, as will be hereinafterdescribed in greater detail. It will be noted from an examination of Figure 4 that each slot 35 is open to the inner face of its plate 38, and further that each slot extends from upper edge 36 to forward edge 3l of a corresponding plate 30.

The seat 4B of the chair of this invention in-A cludes a seat frame that is preferably fabricated from tubular magnesium members consisting of a front tubular member 4i, a pair of spacedside tubular members 42 and Va rear tubular member 43. As is shown in Figures 1, 23, 5 and 7, front and side tubular members 4! and42 are square in cross section, while rear tubular member 43 is circular in cross section. bers are welded together Ito obtain a rigid lightweight seat frame. l

Attached to each side tubular member 4'2 is a member 45 including a depending flange or rail 46 and carrying a rack 41 havingan integral rear upwardA extension or stop y48 (Figures l1 and 9). Seat 40 may .be equipped with any desired known.

type of spring construction and padding material (not shown) an is covered with an upholstery fabric 49. A

A locking mechanism 50 is mounted on support frame l5 and coacts with racks 41 to control forward and/ or rearward movement of seat 4D with respect to the support frame. This locking device may include arpair of brackets v5| attached to front stretcher 2l by bolts 52. Rotatably supported in each bracket 5|' is a shaft 53 that car'- ries a cable drum 54 and a pinion 55Y at its inner and outer ends, respectively. Each pinion 55 meshes with a corresponding rack 41. A bolt 56 is mounted in each bracket 5l, below and in parallel relation to a corresponding shaft 53, and carries a peripherally grooved roller 5l along which rail 46 is arranged to ride. A control lever includes a horizontal portion 60, that extends through and is rotatable in brackets 5|, and an upwardly extending portion 6I positioned. adjacent the outside of one of the side frames l5 'and that has an actuating hand grip 52. at its free end. A pair of spaced pulleys 63 are attached to lever portion 60 by bolts 64, as is best shown.

These tubular memdrumfr andrpasses funden eachzpulleyf(i3:Y Ai pin 66; f (Figures: 2 1 ands j9 ).,i projecting upwardly from c portion .Bofioffzthezcontrol lever, is connected-:to:

bolti|v by al: helical: springt-.; 'lhisfspringi isfinr4 tensionzzand'. tends: tornormallyfurgexthe `control 1 lever: inf a, clockwise` direction` (Figure l) totherebyf place iiexibler :cable .means ,a BSL-in tension and: effect'snubbingz;engagementl of: the cable meanswitnftheV cable drums; Lockingidevice- 511;

maybef-the same as or. :similarato .the corresponde ing mechanismz disclosed in; my' .pendingapplicare:

abandonedl Asiis. best shown in Figure 9',y the irontendfof.I` iiangef or rail: 46 -I is `inclinedfforwardly1 and up- Y. wardly, while: the frontfendfoffrack 4`1fisinclinedf'i forwardly and downwardly to permit theinready mounting ont rollerf5`1fand meshing with pinion 55, respectively. In Figure 2,A the seat 4B is shown at its rearwardmos-t position,- pinion 55 being in meshing engagement i with the vforward por*- tion of rack 41. When the seat isinftherposition illustrated in `Figure 3, stop 48 bears against pinion 55, thereby restraining the seat against further forward movement.

Aback 'lil (Figures 1, 4 and 5) includes-a ira-me consisting Aolf-,an inverted YLl-sha-ped tubular member 1|, havingY the lower portion of Yeach arm bent forwardly,l and a crossl tubular member 12 :welded together: The back is4 preferably provided with suitable springs (not shown) f oraddedzcomfort andis covered with an upholstery fabric 13; The lower portion 14 of each armor tubular member 1| is slitted anddepressed, as indicated in Figure 5, to receive a bar 15 thatris'l rigidly attac-hed# theretoby-a'bolt 1b,4 a nut1121f, andra-sleeve` 18 having a flange 19, a bolt 80, and a nut 8|. Portion 14 of each arm is provided with an aperture 82 to permit a Wrench or other tool to .be inserted within the tube for the manipulation of nut 8|. Each bolt 89 carries at its outer end a roller 83 that is adapted to register with slot 35 in a correspending plate 3U and ride along the track defined by this slot in the plate.

The lower portion of each bar 15 extends below the back frame and is pivotally connected to the rear of the seat through the medium of a sleeve 84 having a flange 85, a plug 86 suitably anchored within rear tubular member 43 of the seat frame, a bolt B1, and a nut 88. A roller 89, that may be the same as roller '83, is rotatable about the common axis of bolt 81 and sleeve 84 and is adapted to register with and ride along the track defined 4by the slot 35 in a corresponding plate 39.

A cap plug 90 is positioned in the upper end of each slot 35 and is removably attached to plate 3|) by a bolt 9| and a nut 92. Plugs 9|) serve as i stops to limit upward travel of back 1li and to prevent accidental removal of the back and seat from the support frame. It will be apparent from a consideration of Figures 2 and 5 that upon removal of cap plugs 90, back 10 and seat Il!) may be removed from the support frame in unison by merely pulling upwardly on the back itself.

Reference is next had to Figures 7 and 8 for details of construction of a mechanism for normally and yieldingly urging seat 49 and back 'lil in the direction of upright position. This mechanism includes a sleeve 95 concentric with front stretcher 2| and having an integral depending bifurcated bracket 96. A rst tube 91 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots 93, only one of which is shown in the drawings; andfisepimtallyconnectedat itsforwardendg tethraclset s eebyqa bolt; .9 A, secendrtube 1.00 teleseeneallr arteria@drylith.` esnet ,tolrst .tu e

springs llii;v Springjs-I |06 are stressed'intension andjendgto maintain yokel Il) l; in readily detach,- ablefcounlillg,engagement with seatframe mem--` berfzand urge thesea-t 44|lrearward1y. A curved leat-spring,,||l1',. attached to bracket 96v and p osi-v gtiorrad beneath andalong tube 91; Serveslto mairig tam telescopingztubes 9.1i andl |99;r in the position.. shown in Figure 7 against the. action ospringsfi Iiswlren-,therseat Mi'and back 1,-9are removed frormthefsupport frame, so thatyoke ||will :befinzpositiortrta again receive seat framer` memeY ber-'43 when'theseatand back` are again mounted. inxslots,3510i-plantes.39:y Additionally, spring |91` eliminates the. possibility ofbinding action-be. tween tubesSl and |931 when they arein the relax tiye position shown rin-Figure 7.: It1will be: noted v that;tube |96 isshownextendedzwith respect toftuble; 9,1; in Figure '7, whichzis illustrativevoi` therrelativeposition of the,k parts, dueto the action'of'springs, |96;V when the back and seatlare inzunr'ightposition, (-Egure 2),.

Iingthcnembod-iment of theinvention shawn in Figures 1,; 2;, 3 andp9, member figand' rack 4J; are narelleletc side-tubular; members 42; or theA seat: frame. As theseat and back; are. adjusted.

-vfrom upright position (Figure 2) to full recline position (Figure 3), the front of the seat moves both forwardly anad upwardly.

In Figure 10, member d5 and rack 41 are shown inclined downwardly and forwardly with respect to side tubular member d2 of the seat frame.

When the seat and back are adjusted from upright to one of the recline positions, this arrangement permits the front of seat 4|] to move forwardly and horizontally or downwardly, depending upon the angle of incline between the seat frame and member 45. It will be apparent that member 45 may be disposed at any desired angle with respect to side tubular members 42 of the seat frame so as to raise or lower the forward portion of seat l0 with respect to the support frame when the chair is in a recline position.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the objects, construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description; and, it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit, or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a chair construction, a support including a pair of spaced side frames, a track carried by each side frame and defining a generally downward and forward arcuate path, a seat, a back having its lower portion pivotally connected to the rear portion of the seat, means supporting the upper portion of the back and a roller secured and clislposed to each side of the seat and rotatable about an axis that is Substantially coincident with the axis of the pivotal connection between the seat and the back, each roller engaging a corresponding track to permit simultaneous movement of the rear portion of the seat and the lower portion of the back along the path defined by the tracks.

2. In a chair construction, a support including a pair of spaced side frames, a track carried by each side frame and defining a generally downward and forward ar-cuate path, a seat, a back having its lower portion pivotally connected to the rear portion of the seat, a roller attached to each side of the seat and rotatable about an axis that is substantially coincident with the axis of the pivotal connection between the seat and the back, and a roller secured to each side of the back intermediate the top thereof and the pivotal connection between the seat and back, the rollers on each side of the seat and back engaging a corresponding track to permit simultaneous movement of the seat and back along the path defined by the tracks.

3. In a chair construction, a support including a pair of spaced side frames, a track carried by each side frame and defining a generally downward and forward path, a seat having its forward portion slidably mounted in the forward portion of the support, a back having its lower portion pivotally connected to the rear portion of the seat, a roller attached to each side of the seat and rotatable about an axis that is substantially coincident with the axis of the pivotal connection between the seat and the back, and a roller secured to each side of the back intermediate the top thereof and the pivotal connection between the seat and back, the rollers on each side of the seat and back engaging a corresponding track to permit simultaneous movement of the seat and back along the path defined by the tracks.

a pair of spaced members, each member having grooves formed therein, said groovesbeing disposed in opposing substantially parallel relationship and defining a generally downward and forward arcuate path, a seat, a back having its lower portion pivotally connected to the rear portion of the seat, a roller attached to each side of the seat and rotatable about an axis that is substantially coincident with the axis of the pivotal connection between the seat and the back, and a roller secured to each side of the back intermediate the top thereof and the pivotal connection between the seat and back, the rollers on each side of the seat and back registering with a corresponding groove to permit simultaneous movement of the rear portion of the seat and lower portion of the back along the path defined by the grooves.

WARREN McARTI-IUR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 656,161 Bennnett Aug. 21, 1900 780,771 Axelrad Sept. 20, 1904 812,051 Lanagan July 26, 1905 1,117,979 Cromer V Nov. 24, 1914 1,212,808 Pepper Jan. 16, 1917 1,366,943 Rider Feb. 1, 1921 1,744,666 Newsom Jan. 21, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 203,012 Great Britain Sept. 26, 1923 

